Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16th April 2018 and 19th June 2018.

The minutes of the meetings of the Panel held on 16th April 2018 and 19th June 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

No disclosures of pecuniary and personal interests were made.

No declarations of the existence of the Party Whip were made.

No questions submitted.

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support providing performance information for the fourth quarter of 2017 – 2018, in respect of the Corporate Plan objectives and key performance indicators.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support providing performance information for the fourth quarter of 2017 - 2018, in respect of the Corporate Plan objectives and key performance indicators was submitted (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Corporate Improvement and Policy Officer attended to assist the Panel with the consideration of the item and noted that the additional information regarding sickness as requested by the Panel at its meeting on 16th April 2018 had been included in this report.  Additional information regarding complaints also requested by the Panel at its meeting on 16th April 2018 would be included within the 2018-19 Quarter 1 report to be considered by the Panel at its next meeting.

At the invitation of the Panel the relevant Cabinet Lead Members and Officers attended to assist the Panel with the consideration of the item.

Theme 1 (Creating a strong and lasting economy) – red Indicators considered

In respect of SLE1-FP (1) (Ensure industrial units are fit for purpose) and Indicator BP2 (percentage occupancy rate of industrial units) in response to issues raised by the Panel, the Property Manager stated that:

• the reason for not meeting the target was not a result of outstanding work required to ensure units were fit for purpose but reflected how businesses were expanding sufficiently to move out of the units.
• the type of units were originally starter units which provided a two year occupancy to businesses, but this had limited the expansion of businesses so a three year occupancy contract was implemented to enable businesses to expand further and to remain in the Business Centres longer.

In respect of SLE2- HOU (bring empty homes into use) and BP3 (number of empty homes brought back into use) a statement provided by the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing was read out by the Corporate Improvement and Policy Officer.  There were no questions.

In respect of SLE3-COS (take appropriate action to ensure the Borough is kept clear of litter) the Corporate Improvement and Policy Officer noted that there was a slight miscalculation in the report whereby the annual target was indicated as red in error and should be indicated as green.

In response to issues raised by the Panel, the Programme Manager stated that quarter 4 showed a contamination level of 3.3% but in previous quarters the contamination level had been 0%.  It was difficult to determine why quarter 4 was showing this increase in contamination and the situation would be monitored.

Theme 2 (Every Resident Matters) - red Indicators considered

In respect of ERM2-NS (provide funding and support to develop capacity in our voluntary and community sector) and BP15 (number of organisations signed up to the Dementia Action Alliance) in response to issues raised by the Panel, the Cabinet Lead Member for Communities, Safety and Wellbeing and the Head of Neighbourhood Services stated that:

·         the target of 15 organisations signing up to the Dementia Action Alliance was considered ambitious  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

A report of the Head of Finance and Property Services detailing the Council’s total expenditure on the Capital Plan for the year 2017/18.

A copy of this report was submitted to the Cabinet on 14th June 2018.

A report of the Head of Finance and Property Services detailing the Council’s total expenditure on the Capital Plan for the year 2017/18 was submitted (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Finance and Property Services attended to assist the Panel with the consideration of the item and undertook to consult the relevant Head of Service regarding a possible typographical error in the appendix.

In response to issues raised by the Panel, the Head of Finance and Property Services stated that:

• the slippages of some project budgets related to delivery schemes not directly within the control of the Council, the projects were being completed but as the projects usually included Section 106 contributions, it could impact the delivery schedule.
• the saving of £828K was not as a result of the Council receiving more income, but due to lower contract prices, less demand for some items, and items being less expensive than budgeted for.

In response to a question, the Head of Strategic Support stated that the Council could not enforce inspections into properties where residents had refused to have a kitchen or bathroom replaced. 

RESOLVED

1.         that the information contained in the report of the Head of Finance and Property Services be noted; 

2.         that the Head of Landlord Services be asked to provide the Panel with further information regarding the reasons why over £200K of the budget for electrical upgrades (PO Z454) had not been spent.

Reasons

1.         The Panel was satisfied with the information provided.

2.         Members of the Panel wished to understand why approximately two thirds of the budget for electrical upgrades had not been spent during 2017-18 considering the importance of ensuring electrical systems were maintained to appropriate standards.

The meeting was paused briefly as it was inquorate for five minutes when a member left the room.

A report of the Head of Finance and Property Services detailing the Revenue Outturn position of the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for 2017/18. 

A copy of this report was submitted to the Cabinet on 14th June 2018.

A report of the Head of Finance and Property Services detailing the Revenue Outturn position of the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for 2017/18  was submitted (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Finance and Property Services attended to assist the Panel with the consideration of the item and in response to issues raised by the Panel stated that the report was now a finalised revenue outturn position and had been recently agreed by the Audit Committee, in addition to the Cabinet.  It was noted that the increase in rent arrears up to 31st March 2018 was approximately 7% in one year. One of the contributing factors was the number of tenants on universal credit, but as this was expected to rise further during this year, the situation would be closely monitored and reserves in the HRA Financing Fund could be allocated to cover this loss if required.

RESOLVED

1.         that the information contained in the report of the Head of Finance and Property Services be noted;

2.         that Head of Neighbourhood Services be asked to provide the Panel with further information regarding the request for £8K to be carried forward and why the underspend of £25K relating to community grants budgets has not been carried forward.

Reasons

1.         The Panel was satisfied with the information provided.

2.         Members of the Panel were of the view that the community grants budgets underspend had been agreed to be carried forward, which was not as stated in the report, and wished to understand the reasons for this.

A report by the Strategic Director of Corporate Services providing an update about the on-line Customer Experience project.

A report by the Strategic Director of Corporate Services providing an update about the on-line Customer Experience project was submitted (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Cabinet Lead Member for Customer Services and the Strategic Director of Corporate Services attended to assist the Panel with the consideration of the item and in response to issues raised by the Panel stated that there were user groups where experiences could be shared between other Local Authorities using the same technology, however the on-line forms were not necessarily standardised and the challenge was integrating the ‘back room’ process with the online process.

RESOLVED that the information contained in the report of the Strategic Director of Corporate Services be noted.

Reason

The Panel was satisfied with the information provided.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support, enabling the Panel to consider its Work Programme, to propose to Scrutiny Management Board any additions, deletions or amendments as appropriate.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support was submitted to enable the Panel to consider its work programme and to propose to the Scrutiny Management Board any additions, deletions and amendments as appropriate (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Strategic Support assisted the Panel with the consideration of this item.

RESOLVED 

1.             that the Progress against actions in the Housing Strategy’ and ‘Empty Homes Strategy - Monitoring of Action Plan’ items from the Panel’s meeting on 21st August 2018 be deferred to its meeting on 9th October 2018;

2.             that the addition of the mid-term review of the Zero Waste Strategy to the Panel’s Work Programme for consideration at its meeting on 21st August 2018 be noted;

3.             that the current position with the Panel’s Work Programme be noted.

Reasons

1.             To enable the Panel to scrutinise these matters with the relevant officers present.

2 & 3       To make the Panel aware of the current position with its Work Programme.